Spreader beam fitting

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a spreader beam assembly in which a pair of steel channels are arranged back to back in spaced relation to one another to form a beam. A beam fitting is positioned at each end of the beam in the space between the steel channels. The beam fitting includes an elongated arm with a bridle fitting at one end thereof to which a bridle chain is secured. The other end of the fitting is terminated in a boss portion which has a hole therethrough. The boss portion is inserted through aligned holes in the steel channels with the boss thereby supporting the weight of the steel channels and the force exerted on the channels by the object being hoisted. Bridle chains are attached to the bridle fitting portion of each beam fitting and are secured to a master link at the opposite end thereof by means of a coupler. A similar beam fitting is secured at each end of the beam to which are attached dropper chains which support the load being hoisted.

rayto et a1.

[ 1 SPREADER BE Fll'l'llNG [75] Inventors: Walker E. Drayton; W11 11.

Kront, both of York, Pa.

[73] Assignee: American Chain & Cable Company,

Inc, New York, NY.

[22] Filed: Mar. 15, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 235,004

[52] US. 111. 294/81 R, 294/78 R [51] Int. Cl. 1166c 1/16 [58] Field of Search 294/67 R, 67 DA, 67 DC, 294/67 E, 67 EA, 74, 78 R, 81 R, 81 SF; 287/95, 97

[56] References (Iited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,603,523 7/1952 Cameron 294/74 2,622,540 12/1952 Stewart et a1 294/74 X 3,185,499 5/1965 Reese 287/97 X 3,462,973 8/1969 Venable 287/95 X 3,601,440 8/1971 Evans 294/81 R Primary Examiner-Evon C. Blunk Assistant Examiner,lohnny D. Cherry Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Pennie & Edmonds This invention relates to a spreader beam assembly in which a pair of steel channels are arranged back to back in spaced relation to one another to form a beam. A beam fitting is positioned at each end of the beam in the space between the steel channels. The beam fitting includes an elongated arm with a bridle fitting at one end thereof to which a bridle chain is secured. The other end of the fitting is terminated in a boss portion which has a hole therethrough. The boss portion is inserted through aligned holes in the steel channels with the boss thereby supporting the weight of the steel channels and the force exerted on the channels by the object being hoisted. Bridle chains are attached to the bridle fitting portion of each beam fittingand are securedto a master link at the opposite end thereof by means of a coupler. A similar beam fitting is secured at each end of the beam to which are attached dropper chains which support the load being hoisted.

4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a spreader beam assembly and more specifically to a spreader beam fitting having a boss portion at one end thereof for supporting a load.

In the past, spreader beams for hoisting a load have been supported by means of a nut and bolt arrangement wherein bolts are passed through each end of the spreader beam and wherein a chain or cable was attached to each bolt to support the beam in space. With this type of arrangement the entire weight of the load including the spreader beam and the object being hoisted was carried by the bolts at each end of the beam. This resulted in large shear forces being impressed on the bolts. As a result, care had to be taken to insure that the bolts did not shear thereby causing the load being hoisted to fall. An example of such a prior art beam fitting is disclosed in Cameron US. Pat. No. 2,603,523 wherein there is shown a pair of steel channels secured together by means of a plurality of bolts and wherein the load and the beam formed by the steel channels are supported by means of two bolts to which a pair of cables are attached. The entire load is carried by these bolts resulting in a large shear force being exerted on each bolt.

It, therefore, is an object of this invention to provide a beam fitting which eliminates large shear forces being exerted on conventional bolts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, this invention relates to a spreader beam assembly including a pair of steel channels arranged back to back in spaced relation to one another. A beam fitting is secured to each end of the beam formed by the steel channels. These fittings have an elongated arm portion with a boss at one end thereof. The fitting is positioned between the steel channels with the boss extending into aligned holes in the steel channels. The entire weight of the beam formed by the channels is supported by the boss of the beam fittings. A pair of washers are placed over the holes in the steel channels and a bolt is inserted therethrough to secure the steel channels on the boss portions of the beam fittings. At the opposite end of each beam fitting is a bridle fitting to which is secured a bridle chain. The bridle chains from each beam fitting are secured to a master link by means of couplers secured to each chain. The weight of the object being hoisted may be conveyed to the spreader beam by one or more similar beam fittings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other objects and features and advantages of this invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description, appended claims and accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. I is a perspective view of the beam fitting of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial cutaway view of the spreader beam assembly of this invention showing the beam fitting;

FIG. 3 is a section view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 2 and shows the beam fitting of this invention positioned between a pair of steel channels.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Refer now to FIG. 1 where there is shown the preferred embodiment of the spreader beam fitting 10 of this invention. An elongated arm portion 11 is shown having a boss 13 at one end thereof. The boss has a generally cylindrical shape to permit rotational movement of the beam fitting when secured to the spreader beam. A hole extends through the boss with the axis thereof being substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the beam fitting. The shoulder portion 17 of the boss is made wide enough to pass through the thickness of the steel channels which it supports. At the opposite end of the beam fitting is a bridle fitting 19 which has a generally U-shaped configuration. Aligned holes extend through the bridle fitting through which a bolt passes. The end portion 21 of the bridle fitting is notched to permit relative rotational movement of a chain with respect thereto.

Refer now to FIGS. 2 and 3 where there is shown a spreader beam assembly. A pair of steel channels 23 are shown positioned back to back and spaced from one another. The beam fitting 10 is positioned between the steel channels with the boss portion 13 thereof extending through a pair of aligned holes in the steel channels. As best shown in FIG. 3, the shoulder portions of the boss extend substantially through the width of the channels thereby providing a maximum surface area for supporting the channels. A pair of washers 25 are positioned against the outside wall of each steel channel. A bolt 27 is passed through the washers and the hole 15 in the boss portion of the beam fitting. The bolt secures each channel against the arm portion 11 of the fitting 10 and on the boss portion of the beam fitting. The opposite end of the fitting 10 is terminated in a bridle fitting 19. A bridle chain 29 is secured to the bridle fitting by means of a load pin 20 which is passed through the hole in the bridle fitting. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the notched portion 21 of the bridle fitting permits chain link 31 to move rotationally with respect to the fitting. The opposite end of chain 29 is secured to a master link 33 by means of a coupler 35. The coupler may be of any type known in the art. A second beam fitting (not shown) is secured in like manner to the other end of the spreader beam.

As can be seen most clearly in FIG. 3, the weight of the spreader beam formed by the steel channels 23 and the load being hoisted is carried entirely by the boss portion of the beam fitting 10 with the bolt 27 being utilized only to keep the channels on the boss portion of the fitting. Accordingly, the bolt 27 experiences no substantial shear forces. To carry the weight of the object being hoisted, a dropper fitting having the same configuration as the aforementioned beam fitting may be utilized. The dropper fitting 3 7 is secured to the channels 23 in the same manner as was the beam fitting and, accordingly, the weight of the object being hoisted is carried by the box portion thereof rather than a bolt 41 which secures the channels in place on the shoulder of the boss portion of the dropper fitting.

By having the fittings 10 and 37 constructed as de scribed above, any type of bolt can be used for the bolts 27 and 41. This is important in that the spreader beam assembly is one which is assembled in the field; and quite often the worker uses any available bolt for connecting the fittings to the channels without regard to whether the bolt is one which will withstand shear forces. In this regard, it is significant to note that the holes through the channels are rough and not specifically suited for minimizing the shear forces acting on a bolt extending therethrough. By having the boss portion of the fittings carry the load, the type of bolts used for connecting the fittings to the channels is no longer critical. As for the connection of the chain to the opposite end of each of the fittings, the bridle fitting 19 is specifically designed for holding the chain and the load pin is specifically constructed for taking the shear load created by the chain link connection. Also, the holes provided in the fitting 19 for receiving the load pin are of special shape for use only with a pin of complimentary shape. As shown in FIG. 1, these holes are oval in cross-sectional shape. This precludes improper substitution by the worker in the field.

We claim:

1. In a load supporting spreader beam assembly including a pair of beam members arranged in side-byside relation to one another, said beam members forming a spreader beam, and at least one beam fitting positioned between said beams for connection at one end to said beam members, the improvement comprising:

a. supporting means integral with said beam fitting for supporting the weight of said beam members connected thereto including a boss at one end of said fitting;

b. said boss being positioned in a pair of aligned holes in said beam members; and

c. means separate from said supporting means for holding said beam members on said fitting including a bolt extending through the boss of the fitting from one side of said beam members to the other side thereof and connected to said beam members.

2. The improvement in the spreader beam assembly of claim 1 wherein:

a. said boss has a circular shape for rotational movement of the beam fitting with respect to the beam members.

3. The improvement in the spreader beam assembly of claim 2 wherein:

a. said boss extends completely through each of said beam members.

4. A load supporting spreader beam assembly comprising:

a. a pair of beam channels arranged back to back in spaced relation to one another, said channels forming a spreader beam;

b. at least one beam fitting having a boss at one end and a bridle portion at the other end thereof, said beam fitting being positioned between said channels with the boss positioned in a pair of aligned holes in said channels, said channels thereby being supported by the boss of said beam fitting;

c. a bolt extending through said boss from one side of said channels to the other side thereof and connected to said channels to prevent separation thereof;

d. a chain for connecting to the other end of said fitting; and

e. coupling means for connecting a link of said chain to the other end of said fitting to withstand the shear forces created by loading the chain in ten- SlOI'l. 

1. In a load supporting spreader beam assembly including a pair of beam members arranged in side-by-side relation to one another, said beam members forming a spreader beam, and at least one beam fitting positioned between said beams for connection at one end to said beam members, the improvement comprising: a. supporting means integral with said beam fitting for supporting the weight of said beam members connected thereto including a boss at one end of said fitting; b. said boss being positioned in a pair of aligned holes in said beam members; and c. means separate from said supporting means for holding said beam members on said fitting including a bolt extending through the boss of the fitting from one side of said beam members to the other side thereof and connected to said beam members.
 2. The improvement in the spreader beam assembly of claim 1 wherein: a. said boss has a circular shape for rotational movement of the beam fitting with respect to the beam members.
 3. The improvement in the spreader beam assembly of claim 2 wherein: a. said boss extends completely through each of said beam members.
 4. A load supporting spreader beam assembly comprising: a. a pair of beam channels arranged back to back in spaced relation to one another, said channels forming a spreader beam; b. at least one beam fitting having a boss at one end and a bridle portion at the other end thereof, said beam fitting being positioned between said channels with the boss positioned in a pair of aligned holes in said channels, said channels thereby being supported by the boss of said beam fitting; c. a bolt extending through said boss from one side of said channels to the other side thereof and connected to said channels to prevent separation thereof; d. a chain for connecting to the other end of said fitting; and e. coupling means for connecting a link of said chain to the other end of said fitting to withstand the shear forces created by loading the chain in tension. 